Mar 31, 2020

Guest Blog - Peace in Christ by Crafty

Yesterday was my P-Day and I had the sudden urge to do something creative, so I took some old dance footage from a school project last year and I made a video. The song "Peace in Christ" has always been special to me. Sometimes it seems like feeling at peace in this life is impossible, but I know that through the atonement of Jesus Christ we can truly feel at peace. I am so grateful for him and the peace I have because of him. I am also so grateful for the art of dance and it's liberating power. Through Jesus Christ and dance I feel free.

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” -John 14:26–27



"Let them praise his name in the dance" -Psalm 149:3



Mar 30, 2020

Guest Blogger: Reading Harry Potter to the Kids by the Dog Walker


My mom has asked me to write a blog post for her, probably because she was hoping for more followers to come read it much more, since I have autism and she tells me that a lot of you think that I have much more interesting stories of my life. And speaking of stories, that's what I've been doing ever since I've been self isolated on the quarantine of the coronavirus. I was feeling so worried about Puppy Lover because ever since her Mom talked about me having to stay at my parents' house for a couple of weeks, just because of the desperate spread of the coronavirus. She's been missing me so much and wishes that she would give me a hug and a kiss, just like a loving wife should always do. I even have been trying my best to be a good husband to her and she believes that I am a good husband no matter what's been going on.

Anyway, ever since this self isolation has started, I've been reading the first book of Harry Potter to Baby Doll and Curly, because they have to do some reading hours for school. And they really enjoyed the way that I've been reading to them. It kind of reminds me of the time that I used to read Harry Potter books to my Mom whenever I was required to some reading for school. Doing something like this had been a challenge for me when I was a kid, but it sure had been fun to learn how to read and ever since that time, I still love to read stories like this one. Ever since I've been in college, however, I always had to read a chapter from a textbook and those were the hardest to do, because I had to remember all the things I've been reading, especially out loud to my Mom, just so that she could help me understand what it is that I've been trying to learn from a specific chapter in a specific class.


Okay, I'm getting a little off topic here. Every now and then of everyday on the self isolation, Baby Doll and Curly would become very excited to hear more about what would happen in the next chapter of Harry Potter. There were the times that whenever I've read, people wouldn't be paying attention, but ever since I've been learning more on how to read, especially reading something in such an entertaining and dramatic way, they find interest in hearing more of me reading. Reading books like this makes me wish that I could be able to read to Puppy Lover. I even tried asking her if she would be interested if she heard me read a book to her, but she told me that Harry Potter is not her favorite thing, probably because she finds it weird and confusing. But I'm hoping there will be a book series that she would love to hear me read to her, I just need to find out what it is that she likes.


Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone|J. K. Rowling
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Besides, I still love to read books to people, because it helps me spend more quality time with the people who have an interest in hearing a story or two. And it makes me feel like I'm being a good and supportive person whenever I read.

Mar 27, 2020

Olympics Games at Home

Curly had been studying Greece at school and all the kids in his class were looking forward to having their own Olympic games. Now the COVID-19 virus has everyone at home and we are trying to home-school the kids. The thing is, Curly still has an assignment on his list to host the Olympic Games... and since he can't work with his friends, guess who gets to participate?

We probably should have done a little more to prepare, like lit a torch and stuff, but we didn't. As soon as the weather was decent (we had snow this morning!) Curly called us all outside to run the 20-yard dash. Now you all know that I have been wearing this big old boot for the past 5 weeks, but what you don't know is that early this afternoon, my doctor told me that I could switch to my old brace that I used prior to my surgery!!

Yay!! No more boot!
So I didn't run the 20-yard dash, but I did WALK it and my sweet Curly decided that anyone who had surgery in the last 3 months could have 1/2 their actual time. I still came in second to last, but I'm just happy to be moving.


Other events included the Javelin (with a pencil).


The shotput (a wiffle ball).


The discus (paper plates)


And my personal favorite (maybe because I usually win!), thumb wrestling!

Overall, I placed 4th, so I was edged out of a medal, but barely. And since we didn't even actually award medals, I guess I'm OK with it.

No more freezing between events... this is the Summer Olympics!
But next time we host our own Olympics, things are going to be a little different...

Mar 24, 2020

New Starts - Let's Go Band! - the encore

I know I shared with you about Crafty's unexpected return, but I couldn't resist sharing with you our newest band member.



We have also named it... Our Quarantine Band.

You know, Crafty hasn't been in the band since 9th grade (about 5 years now), so it is pretty amazing how quickly she picked the clarinet up and played it like a pro.

We still don't know what her new assignment will be. She came back to us with only a carry-on, since the sister missionaries thought they were just meeting with another group for a couple of days. They had to leave so quickly, that Crafty felt terrible about leaving dishes and even food they were currently eating on the table. She never dreamed that would be the last time she would see her little apartment in the Philippines.

There were many miracles that helped them get home, but tomorrow I will post some of her words so you can hear directly from her. So pleased to have her sweet spirit and happy laugh home with us again.